Ann Dermatol.  2012 Aug;24(3):341-344. 10.5021/ad.2012.24.3.341.

Successful Treatment of Alopecia Areata with Topical Calcipotriol

• Kim DH
• Lee JW
• Kim IS
• Choi SY
• Lim YY
• Kim HM
• Kim BJ
• Kim MN

• KMID: 2265308
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2012.24.3.341

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is an inflammatory hair loss of unknown etiology. AA is chronic and relapsing, and no effective cure or preventive treatment has been established. Vitamin D was recently reported to be important in cutaneous immune modulation as well as calcium regulation and bone metabolism. It is well known that areata is common clinical finding in patients with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D-resistant rickets, or vitamin D receptor (VDR) mutation. The biological actions of vitamin D3 derivatives include regulation of epidermal cell proliferation and differentiation and modulation of cytokine production. These effects might explain the efficacy of vitamin D3 derivatives for treating AA. In this study, we report a 7-year-old boy with reduced VDR expression in AA, recovery of whom was observed by topical application of calcipotriol, a strong vitamin D analog.

Keyword

Alopecia areata; Calcipotriol; Therapeutics; Vitamin D

MeSH Terms

Alopecia
Alopecia Areata
Calcitriol
Calcium
Cell Proliferation
Child
Cholecalciferol
Hair
Humans
Hypophosphatemic Rickets, X-Linked Dominant
Receptors, Calcitriol
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency
Calcitriol
Calcium
Cholecalciferol
Receptors, Calcitriol
Vitamin D

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (a) Central view of a 7-year-old patient with alopecia areata (AA) before treatment. (b) The same patient after 1 month of treatment with topical calcipotriol. (c) Calcipotriol ointment treatment resulted in complete clinical remission after 3 months of treatment in a case of AA.

• 

  Fig. 2 (a) Punch biopsies (4 mm each) were obtained from the bald patch on the scalp before the start of treatment. Immunohistochemical staining for vitamin D receptor (VDR) was performed, but black arrow VDR expression was not observed in the hair follicles (immunohistochemical staining for VDR, ×200). (b) After 3 months of calcipotriol therapy, 4-mm punch biopsies were re-obtained from the affected scalp lesion. Immunohistochemical staining for VDR was performed, and black arrow positivity was detected in some nuclei of the keratinocytes in the hair follicles (immunohistochemical staining for VDR, ×200).

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